A tiny United Express CRJ regional jet is dwarfed by the massive the Emirates Airbus A380 taxiing behind it at San Francisco International Airport on Oct. 23, 2016. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' first nonstop flight connecting Singapore and San Francisco taxis to the gate at San Francisco International Airport after arrival on Oct. 23, 2016. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

A Japan Airlines (JAL) Boeing 777 leads the way through a heavy crosswind while a British Airways Airbus A380 follows behind for landing at San Francisco International Airport on Oct. 23, 2016. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is one of the nation's top aviation hubs, one of three airports serving the populous Bay Area region of Northern California.

SFO is also a popular spot for aviation buffs, who can witness a broad lineup of international airlines and wide range of aircraft types not seen at many other U.S. airports.

Among U.S. carriers, United Airlines operates a large international hub there while smaller Virgin America counts SFO as its biggest base. SFO's list of international carriers is impressive, too. Among the airport’s nearly three-dozen foreign-flagged carriers are the likes of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Air France, Qantas, Emirates, Fiji Airways, Avianca and Icelandic carrier WOW.

SFO also wins a favored spot among planespotters for the diversity of aircraft that fly from the airport, including everything from small turboprops and regional jets to the world’s largest commercial passenger aircraft: “the superjumbo” Airbus A380. And SFO is one of the top North American airports for spotting a flight operated on one of Boeing’s iconic 747 jumbo jets.

Another unique distinction for SFO: It is home to the world’s longest flight on two different aircraft types.

SFO was the USA's seventh-busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic in 2015, when more than 50 million passengers flew through the facility.

For those wanting a closer look at SFO, check out the above "Behind the scenes" photo gallery. The pictures comes from photojournalist and Today in the Sky contributor Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, who put together the above collection after spending a recent day roaming the grounds at SFO. For good measure, we've added a few of our file photos at the end.

Want more? Scroll down to see other recent “behind the scenes” galleries from San Francisco and elsewhere.

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Singapore Airlines' first nonstop flight from Singapore to San Francisco lands at San Francisco International Airport on Oct. 23, 2016. The inaugural flight gave Singapore Airlines a nonstop route between the USA and its home country for the first time in three years. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' first nonstop flight from Singapore to San Francisco lands at San Francisco International Airport on Oct. 23, 2016. The inaugural flight gave Singapore Airlines a nonstop link to the U.S. from its home country for the first time in three years. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' Airbus A350 is seen at San Francisco International Airport on Oct. 23, 2016, after completing the carrier's first nonstop Singapore-U.S. flight in three years. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' Airbus A350 is seen at San Francisco International Airport on Oct. 23, 2016, after completing the carrier's first nonstop Singapore-U.S. flight in three years. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines flight attendant pose in front of a sign celebrating the carrier's new nonstop service to Singapore Changi Airport from San Francisco International Airport (Oct. 23, 2016). Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

Executives and officials with Singapore Airlines and San Francisco International Airport cut a celebratory ribbon to mark the start of nonstop service between Singapore Changi and San Francisco ahead of the inaugural San Francisco departure on Oct. 23, 2016. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

Singapore Airlines' Airbus A350 taxis past the San Francisco International's iconic control tower before departing on the inaugural San Francisco-Singapore flight on Oct. 23, 2016. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

Passengers awaiting Singapore Airlines' first San Francisco-Singapore departure were treated to a traditional lion dance at the gate before boarding on Oct. 23, 2016. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

The “Sky” suspended light sculpture hangs in front of 23-foot floor-to-ceiling windows at the end of the concourse, helping to frame the view of airfield activity. A crowd was on hand for a Jan. 24, 2014, sneak-peak of the new facility. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

United CEO Jeff Smisek, at the podium, addresses a sneak-preview crowd at San Francisco International on Jan. 24, 2014. SFO Airport Director John Martin looks on to the left of Smisek. Ken Priore for USA TODAY

Charles Alford, a US Airways customer service worker from Raleigh/Durham, proudly shows off his boarding pass to be on the last-ever US Airways flight on Oct. 16, 2015, in San Francisco. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Officer Tim Daniels, left, and Sergeant Steve Balandran with the Los Angeles Airport Police keep watch over the throngs of people checking in for flights in the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, Special for USA TODAY

Gate 148 sits empty, awaiting its next flight. Gates at LAX, and at the new international terminal in particular, are virtually in constant use. A jet arrives or leaves the terminal about once every 12 minutes. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, Special for USA TODAY

Clad in early evening light, an Air France Airbus A380 jumbo jet soars off of Runway 24L at Los Angeles International Airport, bound for Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, Special for USA TODAY

Its nose just off the ground and its engines covered over with fog, an Etihad Boeing 777 bound for Abu Dhabi lifts off from Los Angeles International Airport. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, Special for USA TODAY

Passengers arriving to the United States descend into the customs and immigration hall inside Los Angeles International Airport's Tom Bradley International Terminal. Nearly 22,000 people pass through the facility every day. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, Special for USA TODAY